Localized for 558 U.S. cities — adjusted for local labor, climate & permits

Costadia Data

HVAC costs by state: where homeowners pay the most

A typical 2026 HVAC install — averaging a furnace replacement and central AC — runs about $7,100 nationally. But state by state the bill swings hard: New York tops the list at roughly $8,300 (+17%), while New Mexico is the most affordable at about $6,750 (-5%).

By Serhat ÖzçelikReviewed by Costadia EditorialUpdated June 2026Method: BEA RPP · IECC · permits
Key findings

What the data shows

  • The most expensive state for HVAC work in 2026 is New York, at about $8,300 for a typical furnace-plus-AC project.
  • The most affordable is New Mexico at roughly $6,750 — a 23% gap between the two.
  • Figures are population-weighted across each state's cities, so they reflect where people actually live, not just one metro.
  • High-cost states are driven by elevated local labor rates; climate plays a secondary role since furnace and AC costs partly offset between cold and hot zones.
Full ranking

All 51 states by 2026 HVAC cost

Population-weighted average of furnace replacement + central AC, localized per city. Tap a state for its city-level guide.

#StateTypical 2026 rangevs. U.S. avg
1New York22 cities analyzed$5,500$11,000+17%
2Massachusetts14 cities analyzed$5,450$10,850+15%
3Hawaii3 cities analyzed$5,350$10,750+14%
4Washington18 cities analyzed$5,400$10,800+14%
5California73 cities analyzed$5,350$10,700+14%
6Illinois16 cities analyzed$5,400$10,700+14%
7District of Columbia1 city analyzed$5,300$10,550+12%
8New Jersey10 cities analyzed$5,300$10,550+12%
9Minnesota9 cities analyzed$5,250$10,450+11%
10New Hampshire1 city analyzed$5,150$10,200+9%
11Oregon8 cities analyzed$5,150$10,250+9%
12Maryland5 cities analyzed$5,050$10,100+7%
13Vermont1 city analyzed$5,100$10,050+7%
14Colorado8 cities analyzed$5,050$10,050+7%
15Connecticut7 cities analyzed$5,000$9,950+6%
16Rhode Island2 cities analyzed$5,050$9,950+6%
17Delaware2 cities analyzed$4,950$9,900+5%
18Alaska3 cities analyzed$4,950$9,800+5%
19Maine3 cities analyzed$4,950$9,800+5%
20Pennsylvania13 cities analyzed$4,950$9,800+5%
21Arizona15 cities analyzed$4,900$9,750+4%
22Nevada7 cities analyzed$4,900$9,800+4%
23South Carolina10 cities analyzed$4,850$9,700+3%
24Wisconsin17 cities analyzed$4,850$9,650+3%
25Florida39 cities analyzed$4,850$9,650+2%
26Georgia14 cities analyzed$4,800$9,650+2%
27Indiana11 cities analyzed$4,800$9,550+2%
28Michigan15 cities analyzed$4,800$9,550+2%
29Ohio12 cities analyzed$4,750$9,500+1%
30Texas39 cities analyzed$4,750$9,550+1%
31Louisiana9 cities analyzed$4,750$9,500±0%
32Utah8 cities analyzed$4,750$9,450±0%
33Virginia16 cities analyzed$4,750$9,450±0%
34Missouri12 cities analyzed$4,700$9,400±0%
35North Carolina16 cities analyzed$4,700$9,400±0%
36Alabama9 cities analyzed$4,650$9,350−1%
37Idaho8 cities analyzed$4,650$9,250−1%
38Kansas8 cities analyzed$4,650$9,300−1%
39Mississippi5 cities analyzed$4,650$9,350−1%
40Tennessee13 cities analyzed$4,650$9,300−1%
41Wyoming3 cities analyzed$4,650$9,250−2%
42Kentucky8 cities analyzed$4,600$9,150−2%
43Montana5 cities analyzed$4,600$9,200−2%
44Nebraska3 cities analyzed$4,600$9,200−2%
45Oklahoma3 cities analyzed$4,600$9,200−2%
46Iowa9 cities analyzed$4,550$9,050−3%
47South Dakota3 cities analyzed$4,550$9,100−3%
48West Virginia4 cities analyzed$4,550$9,100−3%
49Arkansas7 cities analyzed$4,550$9,050−4%
50North Dakota5 cities analyzed$4,550$9,050−4%
51New Mexico6 cities analyzed$4,500$9,000−5%

Want a city-specific number? Explore HVAC costs or browse all cities.

How we calculated this

Figures are localized 2026 planning estimates — not quotes. We start from researched national price ranges, then adjust each location for local labor rates (BLS metro trade wages and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities), climate zone (IECC) and typical permit fees. Full method on our methodology page.

Cite this analysis

Costadia analysis of 2026 HVAC costs (furnace + central AC) for all 51 U.S. states, population-weighted across cities and localized using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities.

https://www.costadia.com/research/hvac-cost-by-state

Free to cite and reference with a link to Costadia. Journalists — see our methodology & sources.